Hong Kong police seize pangolin meat worth HK$1.46 million from mainland China-bound boat
The marine operation in the New Territories yielded 50 boxes of the endangered animal meat
Marine police arrested eight mainland sailors and confiscated endangered pangolin meat worth almost HK$1.5 million after intercepting their mainland-bound boat in local waters early today.
The arrests were made when officers from the marine police’s west division carried out an anti-smuggling operation off Tuen Mun.
At about 1am, a group of people was seen loading boxes of goods from a delivery van and a car onto a cargo vessel from Ho Hoi Street waterfront.
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As the vessel was leaving the pier heading towards the mainland, police swooped in and intercepted the boat off Lung Kwu Tan, according to police.
“On board the vessel, officers seized 50 boxes of pangolin meat,” a police spokesman said. “The haul had an estimated market value of HK$1.46 million.”
Eight mainland men aged between 25 and 37 were arrested on the vessel.
According to police, the Customs and Excise Department was following up the case.